Never Gonna Dance
# Never Gonna Dance

Never Gonna Dance is a Broadway musical featuring the music of Jerome Kern. The musical was based on the 1936 Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers film Swing Time. Lyricists include Oscar Hammerstein, Ira Gershwin, P. G. Wodehouse, Bernard Dougall, Johnny Mercer, Jimmy McHugh, Otto Harbach, and Dorothy Fields.

It opened on Broadway in 2003.

## Production

The musical opened on December 4, 2003 at the Broadhurst Theatre and closed on February 15, 2004 after 84 performances and 44 previews. It was directed by Michael Greif with choreography by Jerry Mitchell, costumes by William Ivey Long, lighting by Paul Gallo, and sets by Robin Wagner. The cast featured Noah Racey (Lucky), Nancy Lemenager (Penny), Karen Ziemba (Mabel) and Peter Gerety (Alfred J. Morganthal).

## Synopsis

John "Lucky" Garnett is a dancer in vaudeville. His fiancée's father does not think Lucky can make a living without dancing. Lucky is determined to prove that he can earn a living without dancing, and so goes to New York on a bet with his lucky quarter to make $25,000. There he meets and falls in love with Penny Carroll, a dance teacher. They enter a dance contest. Meanwhile, Penny's friend Mabel finds romance with a down-on-his-luck stockbroker, Alfred.

## Response

Reviews were mixed. For example, Ben Brantley in The New York Times deemed it a "pleasant" but "spiceless" production. A review by Michael Feingold in The Village Voice was more positive, citing a convoluted plot and some miscast actors, but praising the musical numbers as "reassuringly good".

John Kenrick reviewed the musical for Musicals101, praising the choreography, costumes, lighting and scenic design: "Jerry Mitchell has turned out some effective dances, and the physical production boast period-perfect costumes by William Ivey Long, stunning lighting by Paul Gallo, and some striking New York sets by the great Robin Wagner." However, he noting miscasting, and "The second act spins out of control."

## Awards and nominations

### Original Broadway production

| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2004 | Tony Award | Best Choreography | Jerry Mitchell | Nominated |
| 2004 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Karen Ziemba | Nominated |
| 2004 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Choreography | Jerry Mitchell | Nominated |
| 2004 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Orchestrations | Harold Wheeler | Nominated |
| 2004 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Choreography | Jerry Mitchell | Nominated |
| 2004 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Karen Ziemba | Won |
| 2004 | Drama League Award | Distinguished Production of a Musical | Distinguished Production of a Musical | Nominated |
